Quiz Two GOVT 2302 Spring 2010

I want you to answer these questions on a scantron and bring it to class with you either next Wednesday or Thursday depending on when your class meets. You are to do your own work, do not copy from anyone else. On the scantron somewhere I want you to write: I promise that this is my own work.

1. The legislature is considered to the branch of American government
a. autocratic
b. oligarchic
c. democratic
d. monarchic

2. Which of the following is not a basic function of the legislature?
a. making laws
b. representing the various interests in society
c. providing for efficient implementation of public policy.
d. checking the power of the executive and judicial branches

3. Generally, in a bicameral legislature one chamber is _ while the other is __.
a. closely connected to the people; removed from it
b. given power over taxes; given power over the military
c. designed to check the executive; designed to check the judiciary
d. this is a trick question, both chambers are designed to be exactly the same.


4. The key concern the founders had about legislatures was that it would be susceptible to
a. dictatorship
b. oligarchic control
c. mob rule
d. ineffective


5. What is the significance of the Magna Carta?
a. It established limitations on the powers of the monarch
b. It demonstrated the power of assemblies
c. It led to the development of a legislature
d. all of the above


6. O
ver the course of British history, as the power of the legislature has increased
a. the power of the monarchy has increased also
b. the power of the monarchy has declined.
c. the power of the monarchy has held steady
d. trick question: the power of the legislature has not increased over the course of British History.

7. The Security Clause in the Magna Carta gave an assembly of barons the power to
a. form an assembly to oversee the actions of the monarch in order to ensure that he was following the agreement made in the document.
b. depose the monarch legally through the power of impeachment.
c. create a military separate from the king’s.
d. place their valuables in a safe place removed from the king’s tax collectors.

8. Which of the following parts of Magna Carta is written into the Constitution?
a. the guarantee of free speech
b. the Bicameral Congress
c. the writ of habeas corpus
d. the right to counsel

9. The word Parliament, is based on the French word “parler” which means
a. you English types are inferior since you are not French.
b. to bargain
c. to speak
d. to make law

10. In the Petition of Rights, Parliament claimed
a. that it had the sole right to levy taxes
b. habeas corpus still applied to the executive
c. standing armies could not exist in times of peace unless authorized by Parliament
d. all of the above were claimed by Parliament


11. During the Eleven Year’s Tyranny Charles the First
a. agreed to personally read each of the bills considered in Parliament
b. prevented Parliament from meeting.
c. remained in France.
d. fought the last of the crusades.

12. Prior to his beheading, Charles the First
a. passed out
b. asked to know by what lawful power he was called to his execution
c. agreed to the demands of parliament in order to save his life
d. trick question: Charles was not actually beheaded

13. The British Bill of Rights mandated that kings must recognize all but which of the following?
a. That the pretended power of suspending the laws or the execution of laws by regal authority without consent of Parliament is illegal;
b. That it is the right of the subjects to petition the king, and all commitments and prosecutions for such petitioning are illegal
c. That levying money for or to the use of the Crown by pretence of prerogative, without grant of Parliament, for longer time, or in other manner than the same is or shall be granted, is illegal
d. All had to be recognized by the new monarchs.

14. The Stamp Act Congress declared all but which of the following
a. the colonies should be an independent nation
b. only the colonies had the right to tax themselves
c. the colonies had all the rights of Englishmen
d. the colonists had the right to jury trials

15. In the Declaration of Independence it is claimed that the King of Great Britain was attempting to
a. usurp executive power
b. usurp legislative power
c. usurp judicial power
d. all of the above

16. Which of the following was not a grievance listed in the Declaration of Independence?
a. He has refused his assent to laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
b. He has dissolved representative houses repeatedly, for opposing, his invasions on the rights of the people
c. For imposing taxes on us without our consent.
d. He has refused to pass balanced budgets, thus imposing burdens upon future generations.


17. What entity selected delegates to the Continental Congress created in the Articles of Confederation?
a. the people
b. the states
c. organized interests
d. all of the above

18. At any time during a session of Congress, delegates could be
a. recalled
b. arrested and imprisoned
c. given raises
d. made to serve in the executive branch

19. Delegates to the Congress under the Articles of Confederation served for
a. one year terms
b. two year terms
c. four year terms
d. six year terms

20. A key complaint the Federalists had about Continental Congress under the Articles of Confederation was that
a. it was too independent and was prone to ignore the preferences of the states.
b. more powerful than the Continental President
c. controlled by the states and unable to deal adequately with national problems.
d. trick question: the Federalists has no real problems with the Continental Congress and modeled the Congress in the Constitution on it.